Centric - Microsoft Planner Integration and Automation

Common Integration Use Cases Between Centric and Microsoft Planner

Centric is a product lifecycle management platform built for design-driven industries, helping teams manage product development, collaboration, and product data from concept to launch. Microsoft Planner is a lightweight work management tool used to organize tasks, assign ownership, and track progress across teams. Together, they complement each other by connecting structured product development data in Centric with actionable task execution in Planner.

1. Create Planner tasks from Centric product development milestones

When a new product line, style, or development milestone is approved in Centric, integration can automatically create corresponding tasks in Microsoft Planner for design, sourcing, merchandising, and quality teams.

• Direction: Centric to Microsoft Planner
• Business value: Ensures every approved milestone becomes an actionable work item with clear ownership and due dates.
• Example: A seasonal collection launch in Centric triggers Planner tasks for sample review, BOM validation, and launch readiness.

2. Sync product approval workflows to task assignments

Centric approval events, such as design sign-off or material approval, can trigger Planner task creation or status updates so downstream teams know when to begin their work.

• Direction: Centric to Microsoft Planner
• Business value: Reduces delays caused by teams waiting for manual notifications or email follow-ups.
• Example: Once a garment spec is approved in Centric, Planner automatically assigns a task to the sourcing team to request vendor quotes.

3. Update Centric task status based on Planner completion

When teams complete operational tasks in Microsoft Planner, the integration can update related task or workflow status in Centric to reflect progress in the product development process.

• Direction: Microsoft Planner to Centric
• Business value: Gives PLM users real-time visibility into execution progress without chasing updates across teams.
• Example: A completed Planner task for lab dip review updates the corresponding development checkpoint in Centric.

4. Coordinate cross-functional launch readiness activities

Centric can serve as the source of truth for launch requirements, while Planner manages the tactical checklist for each department involved in the launch process.

• Direction: Bi-directional
• Business value: Improves launch coordination by linking strategic product data with day-to-day execution tasks.
• Example: Centric stores the final product record, while Planner tracks packaging, compliance, photography, and sales enablement tasks needed before launch.

5. Trigger task creation for change requests and rework

When a product change request is logged in Centric, Planner tasks can be created for impacted teams to review, rework, or validate the change.

• Direction: Centric to Microsoft Planner
• Business value: Speeds up response to design changes and reduces the risk of missed dependencies.
• Example: A fabric substitution in Centric automatically creates Planner tasks for costing, compliance, and supplier communication.

6. Escalate overdue tasks from Planner back into Centric

If a critical task in Planner is overdue, the integration can flag the related product record or workflow item in Centric so product managers can intervene early.

• Direction: Microsoft Planner to Centric
• Business value: Helps prevent schedule slippage by surfacing execution risks directly in the PLM environment.
• Example: If a sample approval task remains incomplete in Planner, Centric highlights the delay on the product timeline.

7. Launch recurring operational task templates from Centric project templates

Centric project templates for new product introductions can be used to generate standardized Planner task plans for repeatable workflows across seasons or product categories.

• Direction: Centric to Microsoft Planner
• Business value: Standardizes execution, reduces manual setup, and improves consistency across product teams.
• Example: A new footwear development template in Centric creates a Planner board with tasks for prototype review, fit testing, and final line review.

8. Provide a shared view of product work and execution status

Integration can link Centric product records with Planner plans so stakeholders can move between product data and task progress without duplicating information.

• Direction: Bi-directional
• Business value: Improves transparency for leadership, product managers, and execution teams while reducing status meetings and manual reporting.
• Example: A product manager opens a Centric style record and sees the associated Planner tasks for artwork, costing, and launch preparation.